Common Council Meeting

The Common Council met at City Hall in the City of Black River Falls on October 7, 2025 at 6:00 P.M. Alderpersons Ammann, Peloquin, M. Rave, Dougherty, Busse, Gearing-Lancaster, and Wussow were present. Alderperson E. Rave was excused. Mayor J. Eddy presided. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- It was moved by Alderperson M. Rave, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the September 17, 2025 Special Common Council meeting and approve as presented. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ CITIZENS IN ATTENDANCE There were four citizens in attendance for an agenda item – 2 in person & 2 via Zoom meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ COMMITTEE REPORTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Dougherty, seconded by Alderperson Peloquin to place on file the minutes of the July 17, 2025 Airport Commission. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to place on file the minutes of the September 15, 2025 Ad Hoc Branding Committee meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Busse, seconded by Alderperson M. Rave to place on file the minutes of the September 24, 2025 Plan Commission meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Peloquin, seconded by Alderperson Wussow to place on file the minutes of the September 25, 2025 Police Committee meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Dougherty, seconded by Alderperson Busse to place on file the minutes of the September 26, 2025 Business Improvement District (BID) Board meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Wussow, seconded by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster to place on file the minutes of the September 29, 2025 Utility Commission meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Gearing-Lancaster, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to place on file the minutes of the September 30, 2025 Police Committee meeting. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ The Council discussed three branding/logo concepts presented by the Ad Hoc Branding Committee. All three concepts were well received, and Council agreed the committee had done a great job and are headed in the right direction. Feedback from Council members will be taken back to the Committee to continue the process before being presented to Council again for final approval. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson M. Rave, seconded by Alderperson Ammann to have the City cover 50% of the consultant/engineering cost for the County’s requested mid-block crosswalk on North 3rd Street using the City’s engineer of choice. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ The Council discussed the WI Department of Administration’s decision to close the local Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Rehab Revolving Loan Fund effective September 30, 2025 with any unused funds to be returned by April 15, 2026. The retuned funds will be redirected to a new statewide affordable housing initiative. The City will be responsible for continuing to administer the outstanding loans which total over $750,000. Going forward, housing assistance for local residents will be administered through the CDBG Regional Housing Program. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ ORDINANCE 897 – An ordinance creating Chapter 21 of the Code of Ordinances for the City related to sex offender residency was presented. This is the 1st reading. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ ORDINANCE 898 – An ordinance repealing and recreating Section 1.07(a) of the Code of Ordinances related to smoking prohibition was presented. This is the 1st reading. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ ORDINANCE 899 – An ordinance creating Section 7.21 of the Code of Ordinances to regulate the operation of electric bicycles, electric scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and electric skateboards was presented. This is the 1st reading. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ Page 1 of 2 The City Administrator reviewed updates to the proposed 2026 Operating Budget which included: General Transportation Aid decreased by $3,000 compared to the previous year and projected interest income was increased by $30,000 compared to the previous year based on performance the past two years. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ It was moved by Alderperson Peloquin, seconded by Alderperson Dougherty to adjourn. Motion carried at 7:11pm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ A. Brad Chown, City Administrator Page 2 of 2